DOE Again Denies Access to DNFSB at Nuclear Weapons Facilities; Contact Your Elected Officials

Once again, the Department of Energy and its semi-autonomous National Nuclear Security Administration has denied the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board access to nuclear weapons facilities, including at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).  At a time when LANL is ramping up production of plutonium pits, the triggers for nuclear weapons, the DOE is restricting access to the Board and its resident inspectors preventing them from fulfilling critical oversight and public reporting responsibilities.  As a result, the public is no longer informed about potential issues of adequate protection at defense nuclear facilities.

The Board provides oversight of DOE and is independent in the execution of its mission.  It is part of the Executive Branch of government.

Further, the five-member Board has been eviserated because neither the recent Democratic nor Republican administrations have filled positions on the Board. Currently there is one Board member, which means the Board cannot issue formal recommendations without a quorum – all to the detriment of the public.

The Board is governed by the Atomic Energy Act which requires that the Energy Secretary “shall fully cooperate with the Board and provide prompt and unfettered access to such facilities, personnel, and information as the Board considers necessary to carry out its responsibilities.”

Based upon a lack of jurisdiction argument, DOE falsely claims that it has the authority to deny the Board access to facilities, personnel and information among other improper denials – again, all to the detriment of the public.

In response to similar arguments in 2018 and 2024, the public rose up and successfully demanded that DOE follow the law.  It is time to do that again!  A sample public comment letter is available here – 260820 Public Constituent Ltr to NM Congressional Delegation Members

Please contact your congressional members and demand that the President appoint new members to the DNFSB Board to ensure a quorum; that DOE comply with the Atomic Energy Act and provide the Board “unfettered access” to the nuclear weapons facilities, and provide the public with the latest public Board information and reports.

To learn more, please see the Board’s Technical Director Jonathan Plaue’s August 13, 2026 webcasted presentation to the New Mexico Legislature’s Interim Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee on DNFSB’s activities in New Mexico at nmlegis.gov.

Joni Arends, of CCNS, asked, “The contradiction is severe. How can DOE prevent the Board from doing its mandated oversight work and at the same time ramp up plutonium pit production without the Atomic Energy Act safeguards provided to the public?”

1. TODAY! The release of the NNSA’s Plutonium Life Study revealed that Plutonium Aging is Not Affecting Existing Nuclear Weapons.  Thus, there is an opportunity for you to submit Supplemental Comments on the Draft Plutonium Pit Production Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).  Nuclear Watch NM posted a sample letter you can download and edit at https://nukewatch.org/  Then email your supplemental comments to PitPEIS@nnsa.doe.gov  Please also submit your comments to info@pitpeis.com  Thank you!  Together we are making a difference!

2. TIME CHANGE! Friday, August 21^st from 10:30 am to 11:30 am – Join the nuclear disarmament community at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval in Santa Fe for the weekly peaceful protest in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Bring your flags, signs and banners.

3. Friday, August 21^st at noon – Join people at NMED headquarters (1190 St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe between West Cordova and Alta Vista – near the Rail Runner train tracks) to demand that the New Mexico Environment Department protect the People, not AI profiteers! Stand with NM legislators who are taking leadership roles in demanding accountability and proposing solutions to prevent more fast-tracking of destructive data center deals. Stand with the People of Sunland Park and Santa Teresa who have the most to lose in this zero-sum game. Life itself is at stake.  Source: New Energy Economy.

4. Tuesday, August 25^th, Los Alamos Nuclear Forum: Where History Powers What’s Next – Built in New Mexico, Deployed for the Nation. Hosted by New Mexico Nuclear Alliance. For more information, visit losalamosnuclearforum.com.

5. Tuesday, August 25^th at 10 am Mountain Time – Join the United Steelworkers (USW) Nuclear Sector – Proposed Changes in Radiation Protection: This webinar will examine proposed changes to radiation protection standards and policies affecting the nuclear sector. https://usw.org/industries/atomic/   Join us for an informative webinar on proposed changes to radiation protection standards and the science and policy behind these developments. As regulators consider updates that could affect the nuclear sector, it is important to understand the scientific evidence and what these changes could mean for workers and the public. Our panel will discuss the history of ALARA, current proposals, the research and science that informs radiation protection standards, and the potential impact on occupational health and public health.

Moderator Steven Markowitz, MD, DrPH is a Professor at the Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment at Queens College, City University of New York. He is an internationally recognized expert in occupational and environmental medicine.

Speaker Mark Griffon, ScD is an occupational health consultant with expertise in radiation protection and worker health.

Speaker David Richardson, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on the health effects of ionizing radiation and occupational exposures.

Register today, and spread the word widely. This webinar is designed to educate United Steelworkers members, health and safety advocates, and the public through a science based discussion of proposed changes in radiation protection and what they could mean for workers and their communities.

6. Wednesday, August 26^th from 5:30 pm to 7 pm – Rose Gottemoeller, former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control & International Security, talk titled, “The End of Nuclear Deterrence?” at Center for Contemporary Arts, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe. Hosted by Global Santa Fe: Connecting Our World. For more information and tickets:  https://globalsantafe.org/

7. Wednesday, August 26^th from 6 pm to 7:30 pm – Protect Better Webinar Series: An International Perspective. Learn how experts from around the world view the NRC’s proposed changes, how U.S. standards compare internationally, and why global concern is growing. The webinar will also include guidance on submitting comments to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission before the August 31, 2026 deadline.  https://www.protectbetter.org/

8. Saturday, August 29^th at 1 pm – Exploring Nonviolence: Tools for Managing Conflict in Everyday Life – A Workshop Presented by Nonviolent Santa Fe – at the Downtown Santa Fe Library. See https://ilasantafe.org/nonviolent-santa-fe/ for details.

Tags: AEA, Atomic Energy Act, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Department of Energy, DNFSB, DNFSB Technical Director Jonathan Plaue, DOE, LANL, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Nuclear Security Administration, New Mexico Legislature Interim Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee, NNSA